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Ostrovets NPP generates about 40% of Belarus’ energy

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MINSK, 15 October (BelTA) –  The nuclear power plant in Ostrovets generates about 40% of Belarus’ energy, Energy Minister Aleksei Kushnarenko told journalists during the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum, BelTA has learned.

“The Belarusian nuclear power plant is currently operating at full capacity, both its power units. All in all, more than 35 billion kWh of electricity has been generated since its commissioning. It already accounts for about 40% of the energy generated in the country. This saves us money - we have already replaced about 9.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas. It also helps us improve the environmental situation, since the plant allows reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7 million tonnes per year,” said Aleksei Kushnarenko.

A reminder, the second unit of the Belarusian NPP was reconnected to the power grid on 14 October after the completion of the first scheduled preventive maintenance. In particular, spent nuclear fuel was replaced with fresh fuel (about 25% of fuel assemblies with nuclear fuel was reloaded into the reactor core), and about 12,000 units of equipment were serviced.

The Belarusian nuclear power plant with two VVER-1200 reactors with a total capacity of 2,400MW was built in Ostrovets. For its first nuclear power plant Belarus chose a Russian 3+ generation project, which fully complies with international standards and safety requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The first unit of the Belarusian NPP was put into commercial operation on 10 June 2021. The second unit was commissioned in November 2023.

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